Plymouth

Plymouth's population grew in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. Data from the census show there were changes in religion, marriage and relationships.

The population passed quarter of a million

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Plymouth increased by 6.5%, from just under 241,000 to 256,000.

The addition of just under 16,000 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Plymouth was home to, on average, 23 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres). This made it the South West's second-most densely-populated unitary authority.

Population density was higher than the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Plymouth

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Plymouth increased by one year, from 37 to 38 years.

This city had a lower average age than the South West and became slightly younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just over 11,000 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 6,000.

About 17% of people in Plymouth are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Plymouth by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Plymouth

The number of people in Plymouth that described themselves as having no religion increased from just under 44,000 in 2001 to just over 84,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 18% to 33% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the South West (from 17% to 30%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Plymouth that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 180,000 in 2001 to just under 150,000 in 2011 (from 74% to 58%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from about 17,000 to about 18,000. Both of these figures represented about 7.1% of the total population at the time of the 2001 and 2011 censuses.

Just under 2,100 people (0.4%) said they were Muslim, up from just under 890 in 2001 (0.8%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Plymouth increased by 15 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Plymouth by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Plymouth

This area saw the South West's largest rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership.

Across the region, Bristol saw the next largest increase in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership (from 40% in 2001 to 47% in 2011).

Every local authority area across the South West saw a rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership, as the regional average grew from 27% to 31%.

In 2011, just under 4 in 10 (37%) people aged 16 and over in Plymouth said they were single, compared with 30% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 48% to 43%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that that said they were single across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Plymouth, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.1% to 11% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (31%) households had only a single person, compared with 32% in 2001. The percentage of households in Plymouth, which comprised a married couple (with or without children), decreased from 35% to 31%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased faster here than in any other local authority district across the South West. The improvement brought health in Plymouth close to the national average 9.9% in England described their health as good in 2011).

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple in Plymouth increased by 3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Plymouth, the South West and England that had an unmarried couple, March 2001 and March 2011

Fall in social renting

This area saw the South West's largest fall in the proportion of socially rented homes.

Across the region, Forest of Dean saw the next largest decrease in the proportion of socially rented homes (from 14% in 2001 to 12% in 2011).

In 2011, just under one in five (19%) households in Plymouth lived in social housing, compared with 21% in 2001. The percentage of privately rented homes increased from 13% to 20%.

The rate of social housing was higher than across the South West

Percentage of households that that rented socially across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

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